Download or read book Livres rares et pr cieux composant la biblioth que de M le Dr Desbarreaux Bernard de Toulouse Seconde partie written by A. Labitte and published by . This book was released on 1879 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Torture Garden written by Octave Mirbeau and published by Library of Alexandria. This book was released on 2020-09-28 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: One evening some friends were gathered at the home of one of our most celebrated writers. Having dined sumptuously, they were discussing murder—apropos of what, I no longer remember probably apropos of nothing. Only men were present: moralists, poets, philosophers and doctors—thus everyone could speak freely, according to his whim, his hobby or his idiosyncrasies, without fear of suddenly seeing that expression of horror and fear which the least startling idea traces upon the horrified face of a notary. I—say notary, much as I might have said lawyer or porter, not disdainfully, of course, but in order to define the average French mind. With a calmness of spirit as perfect as though he were expressing an opinion upon the merits of the cigar he was smoking, a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences said: “Really—I honestly believe that murder is the greatest human preoccupation, and that all our acts stem from it... “ We awaited the pronouncement of an involved theory, but he remained silent. “Absolutely!” said a Darwinian scientist, “and, my friend, you are voicing one of those eternal truths such as the legendary Monsieur de La Palisse discovered every day: since murder is the very bedrock of our social institutions, and consequently the most imperious necessity of civilized life. If it no longer existed, there would be no governments of any kind, by virtue of the admirable fact that crime in general and murder in particular are not only their excuse, but their only reason for being. We should then live in complete anarchy, which is inconceivable. So, instead of seeking to eliminate murder, it is imperative that it be cultivated with intelligence and perseverance. I know no better culture medium than law.” Someone protested. “Here, here!” asked the savant, “aren't we alone, and speaking frankly?” “Please!” said the host, “let us profit thoroughly by the only occasion when we are free to express our personal ideas, for both I, in my books, and you in your turn, may present only lies to the public.” The scientist settled himself once more among the cushions of his armchair, stretched his legs, which were numb from being crossed too long and, his head thrown back, his arms hanging and his stomach soothed by good digestion, puffed smoke−rings at the ceiling: “Besides,” he continued, “murder is largely self−propagating. Actually, it is not the result of this or that passion, nor is it a pathological form of degeneracy. It is a vital instinct which is in us all—which is in all organized beings and dominates them, just as the genetic instinct. And most of the time it is especially true that these two instincts fuse so well, and are so totally interchangeable, that in some way or other they form a single and identical instinct, so that we no longer may tell which of the two urges us to give life, and which to take it—which is murder, and which love. I have been the confidant of an honorable assassin who killed women, not to rob them, but to ravish them. His trick was to manage things so that his sexual climax coincided exactly with the death−spasm of the woman: 'At those moments,' he told me, 'I imagined I was a God, creating a world!”
Download or read book Translators Through History written by Jean Delisle and published by John Benjamins Publishing. This book was released on 2012 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Acclaimed, when it first appeared, as a seminal work a groundbreaking book that was both informative and highly readable Translators through History is being released in a new edition, substantially revised and expanded by Judith Woodsworth. Translators have played a key role in intellectual exchange through the ages and across borders. This account of how they have contributed to the development of languages, the emergence of literatures, the dissemination of knowledge and the spread of values tells the story of world culture itself. Content has been updated, new elements introduced and recent directions in translation scholarship incorporated, providing fresh insights and a more nuanced view of past events. The bibliography contains over 100 new titles and illustrations have been refreshed and enhanced. An invaluable tool for students, scholars and professionals in the field of translation, the latest version of Translators through History remains a vital resource for researchers in other disciplines and a fascinating read for the wider public.
Download or read book Samuel Brohl and Company written by Victor Cherbuliez and published by IndyPublish.com. This book was released on 1902 with total page 390 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Samuel Brohl, a poor youth, runs away from his benefactor and assumes a new identity. But his love for a woman threatens to uncover the secrets of his past.
Download or read book Sketches of a Journey written by Octave Mirbeau and published by HarperCollins Publishers. This book was released on 1989 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book S bastien Roch written by Octave Mirbeau and published by Dedalus European Classics. This book was released on 2000 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is a classic portrait of a boy''s psychological, sexual and political coming of age in provincial France, set against the background of the Belle Epoque'
Download or read book Calvary a Novel written by Octave Mirbeau and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2024 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Calvary" is an effective novel written by way of French Writer Octave Mirbeau. The narrative is a scathing critique of the hypocrisy and ethical corruption that permeate society, especially focusing on the Catholic Church and the French bourgeoisie. The tale unfolds via the eyes of the protagonist, Father Serge Mouret, a young priest whose idealism clashes with the oppressive forces within the church. Set in the provincial metropolis of Artaud, "Calvary" follows Father Mouret's religious adventure as he grapples with the enticements and sins that surround him. The novel explores themes of spiritual fervor, sexual repression, and the darkish underbelly of institutionalized religion. Father Mouret's inner struggles and the hypocrisy of those around him serve as a lens via which Mirbeau exposes the ethical decay within both the clergy and society at huge. Mirbeau employs brilliant and regularly surprising imagery to depict the corruption and decadence that exist under the veneer of spiritual sanctity. "Calvary" stands as a critique of the oppressive nature of non-secular establishments and societal norms, supplying a provocative and unsettling portrayal of the human circumstance. Mirbeau's paintings is a seminal piece of French literature that demanding situations conventional morality and exposes the contradictions inherent inside the pursuit of virtue.
Download or read book 21 Days of a Neurasthenic written by Octave Mirbeau and published by French Literature. This book was released on 2015 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Octave Mirbeau, author of The Torture Garden and Diary of a Chambermaid, wrote this scathing novel on the cusp of the twentieth century. Driven mad by modern life, Georges Vasseur leaves for a rest cure, where he encounters corrupt politicians, amnesiac coquettes, cheerfully sadistic killers, imperialist generals, and quack psychiatrists. Hypocrites are eternal, and not much has changed since Mirbeau wrote this acid portrait of his era.
